Book Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

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The Sea of Tranquility
By:  Katja Millay
Published:  Nov. 13, 2012
Publisher:  Atria Books
Source:  Publisher

GR's Summary:

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

My Take on this Journey:

The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay, is a literary work of art.  This is the most intense, driven, volatile, broken, and genuine story you could ever imagine.  Ms. Millay has introduced so many elements to this story, that I don't know where to begin. Nastya Kashnikov has been out of school for over two years.  She was a prodigy at the piano, and had a near death experience that has caused her to stay in seclusion, in her room, away from her family and friends.  She doesn't speak or interact with anyone.  Her parents decide to send her to her Aunt Margot in California, to start her senior year at Mill Creek Community High School, and give her a fresh start.  Nastya agrees to this, because she feels her aunt is easy and won't ask any questions.  She will be on her own most of the time, while her aunt is working as a nurse at the hospital.

Nastya's whole world has been turned upside down for the past two years, and as Ms. Millay reveals bits and pieces, the reader gets a better picture of the secret Nastya is withholding and why she will not speak to anyone.  Margot, her cool aunt, is her mothers younger sister by 10 years.  When Nastya goes to school, she decides she doesn't want to look pure and innocent looking.  In order to keep people at arms distance, she will make herself look as unapproachable as possible.  Nastya dresses like a street walker, with black makeup, black short skirts, (that barely cover anything) and 4 1/2" black stilettos.  The girls shun her, the boys cat call, and everyone thinks she's easy.  She lets them think whatever they want to think.  She doesn't care, as long as they stay away from her.  At night, when her aunt is at work, Nastya runs until she vomits, and cannot feel anything anymore.  She is always listening for sounds and always leery of what lays in wait.  She dresses plain, no makeup, hair pulled back, and is unrecognizable in the evening light.

Josh Bennett is a strange guy.  No one goes near him.  He is the kiss of death to everyone and they are afraid they will die if they get too close to him.  It's as if he has the plague, and has a force field around him.  No one enters his space.  Nastya notices immediately.  She wants what he has.  For weeks, she hides in the restroom till it is time for her after lunch class, just to avoid idle chatter or possible acts of kindness or friendship.  Josh has lost everyone in his family to tragedy, and now his grandfather is dying and the last to go.  He doesn't want friends.  He has one true friend, Drew Leighton, though he is a bit of an a**, and his family.  He is a loner, who works in the wood shop at school, and returns home to work on pieces of furniture in his garage.  He doesn't interact with anyone, and only goes to Sunday dinner with the Leighton family because it has become part of an expected routine by the parents.  This story was full of angst, mystery, romance, and friendship.  Little by little, Drew finds a comfortable, silent, friendship with Nastya and each uses the other for their own purposes.  Drew is not all that everyone thinks he is and with Nastya he can be himself.

One day while running, Nastya see's Josh in his garage working on a piece of furniture, on her way home from running.  She stops, stares, and insinuates herself into his life, and before you know it, they have a peculiar but loyal friendship, that Nastya is determined to keep purely platonic, though she has feelings for Josh.  These two young kids get under each others skin and can't let go.  As time goes by, the truth of why Nastya cannot use one of her hands, has scars, won't speak, and is afraid of her own shadow come to light in this dramatically earth shattering novel.  Ms. Millay has created a sensational novel, dark, and impossible to forget.  She deserves to be put into the literary cannon.  I for one will never forget this life altering story. All the characters were well rounded, had tremendous character growth, and were integral parts of this phenomenal piece of literature.

I give, The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay, 5+ Life Altering, Tragic, Lonely, Broken, Unforgettable Stars!!!

My Favorite Quotes:

"Dying really isn't so bad after you've done it once.  And I have.  I'm not afraid of death anymore.  I'm afraid of everything else."  (Kindle, Loc-41)

"I know what it looks like.  These people were probably normal once.  I think about how easily this could be the Leightons if it had been Sarah.  How every normal family is one tragedy away from complete implosion."  (Kindle, Loc-4530

~Josh

"Maybe when she's not so damaged anymore, I won't be enough for her.  Maybe she'll want someone whose life isn't as tragic as hers.  And that won't be me.  (Kindle, Loc-4693)

~Josh

Book Trailer:

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About Katja Millay:

Katja Millay grew up in Florida and graduated with a degree in film & television production from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She has worked as a television producer and a film studies and screenwriting teacher. The Sea of Tranquility is her first book.

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